Thied to john w



(No Model.)

O.EGG-ELS TON.

v RATOHETBAR AND BRACKET SHELV'ING. No. 246,875. Patented Sept. 13,1881,

mvmmn,

ATTORNEY.

Usurnn STATES PATENT GFFICE'.

OARLOSS EGGELSTON, OF MACON CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TO JOHN WV. PATTON.

RATCHET-BAR AND BRACKET SHELVING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 246,875, dated September 13, 1881. Application filed January 25, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, CARLOSS EGGELSTON, of Macon City, county of Macon, State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ratchet-Bar and Bracket Shelving; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertainsto make and use it, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention consists of the combinations of devices and appliances hereinafter described, and more fully pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation; Fig. 2, a side view ofa set of shelving embodying myinvention; Fig. 3, separate views of ratchet-bar and bracket. 7

It is the object of my invention to produce a system ofshelving constructedin sucha manner that the shelves shall be rigid and yet easily moved at any time.

A is a wall or partition. B are the ratchetbars. 0 are the brackets for holding the shelves. D are the shelves. d are cleats or cars; E, overhanging brackets; 0, rod running across overhanging brackets E.

The ratchet-bars B are provided with teeth out at such an angle that when the brackets O are raised up they will readily ride over the ratchet-bar B, although when they are raised to the required height and released they will immediately be caught by the angular upturned teethand securely heldin position. Any additional weight which may be added only serves to make the catch on the rat-chet-barB more secure.

Each of the upright ratchet-bars B is composed of two ratchets formed on the flanges b of the side pieces and separated by a sufficient space to admit the neck or shank c, terminating in a cross-head, c, which takes behind said flanges, and may be moved up or down, as required.

The ratchet-bars B may be secured to wall or partition A by any suitable means. In the drawings itis shown screwed on, with the heads of the screws countersunk into the ratchetbar B.

The bracket 0 is provided with an elongated end at the top, having a crosshead running crosswise, for the purpose of passing into the slot and holding the bracket in position. At the lower portion ofthe back part ofthe bracket, which takes an inward turn to more readily engage with the ratchets, is a small shoulder, c", which also runs up and down in the space between the toothed flanges, for the purpose of steadying the bracket. The back portion of the bracket curves downwardly and rearwardly, teiminatin g in edges and forming catches G G on opposite sides of the shoulder 0, as shown in Fig. 3, these catches being for the purpose of engaging the teeth of the ratchets.

The shelves D may be made of any suitable width or breadth, and may be rigidly secured to the brackets U by means of cleats or carsd, which are situated on the under side of the shelves and pass through. holes or sockets formed in the upper part of the bracket G. On the upper side of the top shelf are situated overhanging brackets E, which may be made of a plain rod of iron, or any othersuitable material. The ends are formed into sockets for the purpose of receiving rod 0.

The rod 6 maybe composed of wood, iron,or any desired material. It may be sccurelyfastened to or be made a part of overhanging bracket E, or be simply rested within the sockets formed in the end of the same, and be used for suspending a curtain, or for thepurpose of hanging articles to make a display in a store.

In shelving generally used in stores the great difficulty has been that when it was necessary to make a greater or smaller space between the shelves it is imperative to take away the brackets, which are usually only nailed to the wall or partition and nail them up at the required position. In my device, however, it will be seen that a shelf maybe moved up and down without either removing the shelf or bracket by simply raising the front part of the shelf, which disengages the jaw at the bottom 5 of the bracket from the teeth of the ratchetbar, leaving it free to act in the manner desired, and it is not necessary to remove the article standing on the shelf when raising or lowering it.

The brackets are constructed in such a manner that they may be removed at will without taking down the ratchet-bar, so that in my device as many or few shelves may be used as desired.

This device is equally well adapted for the shelving in book-cases, pantries, Ste, and will be found exceedingly convenient in such locations.

I am aware that in bracket-shelving a ratchetupright has been provided with parallel longitudinalflan geshaving outwardly-turnedlips embraced by a double claw formed on the inner end of a bracket-arm, from which arm another projects downwardly, and is provided with a catch to enter between the flanges and engage the ratchet-teeth of the upright, and I do not claim such invention.

In my invention the side pieces and ratcheted flanges inclose and conceal the device by which the bracket is mainly securedviz., the cross-headthus giving the shelving-supports a neat smooth edge-finish, the ratchet-teeth being exposed in front and easily dusted and cleaned. The brackets have a smooth movement up and down, from the fact that they are steadied both at top and bottom of their vertical arms, as the shoulder 0 need never be withdrawn entirely from between the flanges in moving the brackets, this shoulder being of such length that the catches may be disengaged from the ratchet-teeth without so withdrawing it.

What 1 claim is- 1. In bracket-shelvin g, the combination, with the upright bracket-supports composed of the bars B, having outwardly-projectin g side pieces provided with the flanges b, projecting toward each other, and each of said flanges having ratchet-teeth formed on its outer surface, of 0' the brackets composed of the arms 0, each having a contracted shank or neck, 0, fitting between the edges of the flanges and terminating in the cross-head c, which takes behind said flanges, and the downwardly-extending arm provided with catches to engage both the toothed flanges, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the uprights consisting of bars B, having outwardly-projecting side pieces provided with the ratchet-flanges b, projecting toward each other, of the brackets, each composed of a horizontal arm, 0, provided with the contracted shank or neck 0, terminating in across-head, c, and the downwardly-projecting arm provided with catches to engage both of said ratcheted flanges, and near its lower end having the shoulder 0 arranged to enter between said flanges, substantial] y as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with the brackets provided with the holes or sockets, as described, ot' the shelves provided with the cleats or cars to engage in said holes or sockets, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specifica- .tion in the presence of two witnesses.

GARLOSS EGGELSTON.

Witnesses WILLIAM FORBES, JOSEPH R. Fonnns. 

